Apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm.



APPARATUS FOR USE IN REDUCING FRACTURES OF THE ARM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. m1.

1,286,36. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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APPARATUS FOR USE IN REDUCING FRACTURES OF THE ARM.

APPLICATION man JULY 6. 19H.

1 ,286,036. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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APPARATUS FOR USE IN REDUCING FRACTURES OF THE ARM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1917

1,286,036, lutuutvd Nov. 26, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LISANDRO LEYVA, OF NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN REDUCING FRACTURES OF THE ARM.

Application filed July 6, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LISANDRO LEYVA, a citizen of the Republic of Colombia, South An'ierica, residing at Neuilly-sur- Seine, France, have invented Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Reducing Fractures of the Arm, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm. In contradistinction to apparatus already known for such purpose the patient, instead of being compelled to keep his bed or remaining in a recumbent position, may move and walk about with the improved apparatus applied to his person, the injured arm being held securely in the position desired so that the fracture may be reduced. Furthern'iore owing to its construct-ion, the improved apparatus enables the patient to impart to the arm and forearm under treatment all the movements desired and necessary to preserve the normal flexibility of the joints and, consequently to avoid ankylosis. In other words the im roved apparatus is so constructed that, w iile secured to the body and giving support to the fractured member it leaves the patient free to move without risk of interference with the proper treatment of the fracture.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example, one form of apparatus constructed according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows the apparatus in front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail view to which reference will be hereinafter made.

Fig. 4.- is an end view of the apparatus, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view with certain parts of the apparatus occupying a different position.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modification of a part of the apparatus in elevation and plan respectively.

Fig. 8 1s a dlagram indicating a fractured humerus.

Fig.9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 indicating Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Serial No. 179,013.

the deviation which is produced in the two parts of the fractured humerus by the action of the muscles of the arm.

Fig. '10 shows, in detail, the part of the apparatus serving to exert a pull upon the arm with a view to separating the two parts of the humerus from each other.

Fig. 11 is a similar view to Fig. 10 showing the humerus pull has been exerted; and

Fig. 12 is a plan of the parts seen in Fig. 11.

The apparatus comprises a base or body member a of semi-cylindrical form, suitably quilted and provided with two straps a a adapted to passpartl v around the patients body and with a strap a adapted to pass over the shoulders of the patient. This method of fastening, however may be varied as the surgeon or maker may desire or consider suitable.

The member a carries all the several parts of the apparatus by means of two uprights b, 6 connected at the bottom and in the middle by stays o If passing around the outside of the member a and by two bars 5, articulated at b, b to the uprights Z), 6 Fixed to the bars 5 7) are bars 6 I) curved to semicircular form and connected at their free ends by a cross piece or stay 72 At the lower portion of each semi-circular bar 72 Z)? there is fastened a pendant bar 5 Z). see. Fig. 4:, the top of which is provided with an eye I), I), the two bars being connected at the bottom by a cross piece I). These parts are riveted 0r fixed permanently in position in any suitable way.

A hammock or cradle 0 adapted to support the fractured arm 65 is arrangedbetween the two bars 71*, I). This cradle, which is made of cloth, linen or other suitable material, is suspended on each side by adjustable straps c c 0 c from the carrier 0", 0. These carriers are adapted to roll or slide on rails 0 0 fixed to the bars b 6 The liberty of movement of the cradle allows it to occupy the desired position, according to the differ ent arms to be treated.

Extending from the stay 5 of the mem" her a are two rods 6, e which are articulated to the stay at e and e and are adapted, to

slide in guidese, 6 The guides are jointed to the bars b, 6 by means of stems fitted with wing nuts 6 e. In the example under notice the rods 6, e are shown double but as will be understood single rods will do.

The forearm of the patient is supported by a plate 9, see Fig. 3, which may be provided with a stem 9 adapted to be gripped by the hand. The plate 9 is either well seated upon a bracket 9 to which it may be attached as by means of straps g 9 see Fig. 3, or it is fixed or riveted tothe bracket as shown in the modification in Figs. 6 and 7, which also illustrates plate 9 of modified form. As will be understood the form of the plate may be varied as desired.

The bracket 9' is adapted to be mounted and dismounted in suchwise that it can be placed to the right, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, if the right arm is to be treated, or to the left, as shown in dotted lines in the same figure, if the left arm has to be treated. The said bracket is mounted on two symmetrical bolts 9 g which are carried by the bars 6, Z2 and about which bolts the bracket can turn. When once adjusted the bracket is locked in position by means of wing nuts 9 g on the bolts g g*.

The arrangement serving to exert a pull on the arm is shown in Figs. l0, l1 and 12. It comprises a strip of soap or diachylon plaster h which is caused to adhere to the arm after having applied to it a supporting plate h provided with a ring it through which is passed an elastic strap ha. The two ends of this latter are held by a suitable gripping device such as the one shown at 72. The elastic strap is passed over the bent end of a hook b Figs. 1 and 5. Or the plaster it being applied the tension arrangement may be connected to the hook k and pulling effort, exerted by the strap adjusted .at will.

As will be understood the device for exerting a pull on the arm may be varied as to its construction mechanically, moreover, instead of an elastic strap a coiled metal spring may be used.

The method of operation of the improved apparatus is as follows:--

Assuming the apparatus to be adjusted to the patient, in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arm at resting on the cradle c and the forearm f resting on the plate 9, the stem g being gripped by the hand of the patient. Assuming also that a strip of plaster h is applied to the arm as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 and connected by means of the tension device h if, its, 70*, to the hook if. The tension device will then tend to move the two parts of the humerus which has been fractured slightly away from one another, in opposition to the natural pull exercised by the muscles of the arm, and

consequently cause such fractured bone to pass from the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10 into that indicated in Fig. 11, wherein the two parts of the bone are in a line and they will be so held throughout the whole course of the treatment. Throughout the entire duration of the, treatment the patient will not only be able to move freely with the apparatus secured to his person but will also be able to exercise or work at will the joints of the arms, by oscillating the apparatus about the articulations b, b so as to pass for example from the position shown in Fig. l to that of Fig. 5 and vice versa. The patient will also be able to move the forearm with the same facility by causing the supporting plate to pivot on its axis 9 while, by contracting the hand upon the stem g the patient can also bring the muscles of the hand and wrist into play.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member, means for securing said base member to the body of a patient, a cradle for supporting the fractured arm of the patient, bars connected.

to said base member from which said cradle is swung, and means connected to said base member for supporting the forearm of the patient.

2. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member,.means for securing said base member to the body of a patient, a longitudinally adjustable cradle for supporting the fractured arm of the patient, bars connected to' said base member from which said cradle is swung, and means connected to said base member for supporting the forearm of the patient. I

3. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member, means for securing said base member to the body of a patient, means mounted on said base member for supporting the fractured arm of the patient, a support connected to said base member for the forearm of the patient, and a member on said forearm support adapted to be gripped by the hand. i

4. In apparatus for use in reducing frac- V tures of the arm, a base member, means for securing said base member to the body of a patient, bars pivoted to said base member and having curved extensions, roller tracks fixed to said bars, a cradle to support the arm of the patient, rollers mounted to run on said roller tracks and from which said cradle is suspended, vertical pivots carried by said extension, and a forearm rest mounted to turn on said pivots. I

5. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member, means for a patient, bars pivoted to said base member and havmg curved extensions, roller tracks 7125 securing said base member to the body ofv 1 fixed to said bars, a cradle to support the arm of the patient, rollers mounted to run on said roller tracks and from which said cradle is suspended, vertical pivots carried by said extension, a cross bar connecting the free ends of said curved extensions, a hook connected to said cross bar, an eye adapted to be connected to the arm of the patient, an elastic connection between said hook and said eye, and a forearm rest mounted to turn on said pivots.

6. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member, means for securing said base member to the body of a patient, bars pivoted to the upper part of said base member and having curved extensions, roller tracks fixed to said bars, a cra'dle to support the arm of the patient, rollers mounted to run on said roller tracks and from which said cradle is suspended, vertical pivots carried by said extension, guides carried by said extensions, rods workmg in said guides and pivoted at their lower ends to the lower part of said base member, and a forearm rest mounted to turn on said pivots.

7. In apparatus for use in reducingfractures of the arm, a base member, means for securing said base member to the body of a patient, a support for a fractured arm, a frame from which said support is suspended pivoted to said base member, a tension mem ber connected at one end to said frame and adapted at the other end to be connected to a part of an arm on said support, a forearm support, and a carrier for said forearm support pivoted to said frame.

8. In apparatus for use in reducing frac tures of the arm, a base member, means for securing said base member to the body of a patient, a support for a fractured arm, a frame from which said support is suspended, horizontal pivots connecting said frame to said support and about which said frame can turn in a vertical plane, a tension member connected at one end to said frame and adapted at the other end to be connected to a part of an arm on said support, a forearm support, a bracket carrying said forearm support, and vertical pivots connecting said bracket to said frame and about which said bracket can turn in a horizontal plane.

9. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member constituted by a padded curved plate adapted to fit against the body of a patient, straps adapted to secure said plate to the body of the patient, a structure built up of metal bars hinged to the upper part of said base member, struts each hinged at its lower end to the lower part of said base member, guides carried by said structure through which said struts can slide, means for securing said struts in said guides, a cradle adapted to support the fractured arm of "the patient, a carrier for said-cradle, straps suspending said cradle from said carrier, rails fixed to said structure, rollers on said carrier adapted to run on said rails, means pivoted to'said structure adapted to support the forearm of the patient, an eye adapted to be attached to the arm of the patient, a strip of elastic material passed through said eye, a gripping device adapted to secure together the ends of said strip, and a hook on said structure adapted to be engaged by the loop constituted by said elastic strip when the ends thereof are secured together by said gripping device.

10. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member constituted by a padded curved plate adapted to fit against the body of a patient, straps adapted to secure said plate to the body of the patient; a structure built up of metal bars hinged to the upper part of said base member, struts each hinged at its lower end to the lower part of said base member, guides carried by said structure through which said struts can slide, means for securing said struts in said guides, a cradle adapted to support the fractured arm of the patient, a carrier for said cradle, straps suspending said cradle from said carrier, rails fixed to said structure, rollers on said carrier adapted to run on said rails, a plate adapted to support the forearm of the patient, a bracket to which said plate is secured, vertical bolts connecting said bracket to said structure and about which said bracket can turn, an eye adapted to be attached to the arm of the patient, a strip of elastic material passed through said eye, a gripping device adapted to secure together the ends of said strip, and a hook on said structure adapted to be engaged by the loop constituted by said elastic strip When the ends thereof are secured together by said gripping device.

11. In apparatus for use in reducing fractures of the arm, a base member constituted by a padded curved plate adapted to fit against the body of a patient, straps adapted to secure said plate to the body of the patient, a structure built up of metal bars hinged to the upper part of said base member, struts each hinged at its lower end to the lower part of said base member, guides carried by said structure through which said struts can slide, means for securing said struts in said guides, a cradle adapted to support the fractured arm of the patient, a carrier for said cradle, straps suspending said cradle from said carrier, rails fixed to said structure, rollers on said carrier adapted to run on said rails, a plate adapted to support the forearm of the patient, an upright constituting a hand grip on said late, a bracket to which said plate is secure vertical bolts connecting said bracket to said thereof are secured together by said grip- 10 structure and about which said bracket can ping device.

turn, an eye adapted to be attached to the Signed at Paris, France, this 21st day arm of thde platient, a sgrip of elastic mageof June, 1917.

rial passe t rougi sai eye, a gripping evice adapted to secure together the ends of LISANDRO LEE said strip, and a hook on said structure Witnesses:

adapted to be engaged bythe loop consti- RAPHAEL H. BRANDON,

tuted by said elastic strip when the ends D. HORACE BRANDON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

